THE ROYAL AIR FORCE AT 100 A PERSONAL VIEW by Group Captain Patrick Tootal OBE DL RAF (Retd) Hon Secretary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust CIO and the Battle of Britain Fighter Association and Founder DefenceSynergia Member On the 1 April 2018 the Royal Air Force celebrated its centenary. I am proud to Continue reading
DefenceSynergia (DS) must, once again, draw attention to the incoherent and risky air power policy of the Royal Air Force (RAF) inherent in the planned retirement of the Tornado GR4 fleet by mid 2019 especially when linked to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) ill advised ‘Two Fast Jet Fleet’ policy. Until recently the RAF had Continue reading
DefenceSynergia is indebted to Howard Wheeldon for this timely and pertinent review of Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS), Gen Sir Gordon Messenger’s, recent media interview taken alongside the views expressed by the Chief of the General Staff (CGS), Gen Sir Nick Carter and Gen Sir Richard Barrons, the recently retired head of UK Joint Forces Command. Indeed, their interventions and warnings Continue reading
DefenceSynergia(DS) views with mounting concern and incredulity MOD’s focus on obliging the Armed Forces to fulfil every twist and turn of the Political Correct (PC) agenda instead of focusing on their fighting effectiveness. Colonel Tim Collins, who made his name on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, rightly and wisely wrote on such matters Continue reading
As 2018 beckons DefenceSynergia (DS) has collectively considered where the United Kingdom (UK) stands in relation to defence. DS concludes that now is the time for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) to take a broad view of defence, yet seemingly, that is what the United Kingdom (UK) government is in danger of not doing if it Continue reading
DefenceSynergia (DS) is concerned that unless we have missed something in the Christmas mist we are not aware of any overriding operational need to go single source for the Army’s Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) contract. The German system under consideration seems like a ‘gold plated’ solution and probably far too heavy to easily meet United Continue reading
DefenceSynergia wishes all our loyal, professional and hard pressed service personnel the prospect of a more prosperous New Year than to date; where ever they are serving. We wonder if they or anyone can sense or hope that there may be changes with the arrival of the new Secretary of State for Defence, The Right Continue reading